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Chemical manufacturer 3M has announced it will pay $10.3 billion to resolve lawsuits by public drinking water providers over alleged contamination by its “forever chemicals.”
The $10.3 billion would be paid to the water providers over the course of 13 years, helping to detect and clean up any “forever chemicals,” so called due to their longevity and lack of natural degradation, in water supplies.
The 3M settlement on Thursday came weeks after DuPont de Nemours Inc. and spinoff companies Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc. reached a $1.18 billion settlement in the same suit.
The chemicals, specifically perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances or PFAS, are used in nonstick and waterproof cookware and clothing, as well as in fire retardants like foam.
Pollution of water by these chemicals has been linked to immune system damage, liver issues, developmental defects and some cancers. Many of the lawsuits stem from locations that have seen a lot of firefighting foam used in training, such as military bases or airports.
